The Musée des Beaux Arts de Pont-Aven also known as Museum of Pont-Aven was created in 1985 with the support of the French Museum Department and the FinistèreConseil Général. The modern wing built in 1985 is reserved for exhibitions and the old wing, which was renovated in 1987, houses a historical reconstruction of Pont-Aven at the end of the 19th century as well as the permanent collection dedicated to the Pont-Aven School.
History
Some key dates marking the genesis of the museum
August 1939. First revival of interest in the artistic past of the city: the mayor of Pont-Aven unveils a commemorative plaque on the former Pension Gloanec, recalling the many artists' productive stay. Alongside this symbolic gesture, the salons of the Hôtel Julia host an exhibition on Gauguin and the Pont-Aven group.
1953. Fiftieth anniversary of the death of Paul Gauguin: a retrospective exhibition is held, featuring his painting La Belle Angèle, on special loan from the Louvre Museum, where it was then held.
1960. Creation of "The Friends of Gauguin" chaired by Maurice Malingue. Its mission is to publicize the Pont-Aven School through temporary exhibitions.
1971. The "Société de peintures de Pont-Aven", chaired by Bertrand Queinec, is successor to a body known as the "Association of the Friends of the 'Musée Paul-Gauguin'". In 1985, this becomes the "Association of the Friends of the Museum of Pont-Aven."
March 26, 2016. New museum with 18,000 square feet of working space opens to the public as the Musée de Pont-Aven in the restored and extended annex of the Hôtel Julia.
Objectives
The objectives of the Museum
To publicize the work of artists inspired by Brittany and especially by Pont-Aven, from the 1860s to the 1970s
Guarantee of quality and professionalism of the work of the team, the Museum of Fine Arts in Pont-Aven now enjoys the title "Musée de France" issued by the Directorate of the Museums of France.
Collection
Artists within the collection:
Émile Bernard
Maurice Denis
Paul Gauguin
Meijer de Haan
Émile Jourdan
Maxime Maufra
Henry Moret
Paul Sérusier
Wladyslaw Slewinski
Management
Curator: Estelle Guille des Buttes-Fresneau
Assistant Curator and Head of Public Service: Camille Armandary
Store Manager and Head of the Documentation Centre: Anne Bez-Le Tallec
